Montreat Minute for February 20, 2026
Montreat Leads Way in Solving Crime Spree
In the early morning hours of Wednesday, February 4, the Montreat Police Department (MPD) received notification of a possible house break-in as well as multiple vehicle break-in attempts in Montreat. MPD Captain Tim Bradley was alerted and came to the office to begin the investigation. As the day and the investigation progressed, it became clear that the crimes weren’t isolated to Montreat alone. This was a crime spree that crossed over jurisdictions, including Black Mountain, Asheville, Buncombe County, Yancey County, and Madison County. With Captain Bradley’s 30 years with the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) and detective experience handling more than 1,500 cases, Tim applied his skills and began piecing together the puzzle of who did it and what happened.
After meeting with MPD officers, he reached out to Black Mountain detective Andy Bradley to gather additional information. Andy is a very well-trained detective, largely because his father is Tim! Andy reported to Tim that a vehicle and credit cards had been reported stolen in the early morning near the time of the Montreat break-ins. The credit cards had been used at a local gas station.
They began gathering traffic and store camera footage, credit card usage, and through that information developed a physical description of the man. Between evidence gathered in Montreat, Black Mountain, and Buncombe County and the use of powerful databases, they were able to determine the identity of the suspect. But they didn’t know where he was.
Tim alerted Buncombe County’s Illegal Gun Reduction and Narcotics Task Force (IGRANT) with an “Attempt to Locate” communique on Wednesday afternoon. Although the suspect had gone quiet, law enforcement was still piecing together information about additional crimes committed and uncovering new evidence. Alerts were sent out to all the law enforcement agencies in the region about the man on the run.
The next day, the suspect was spotted driving yet another stolen vehicle. He then tried to evade law enforcement, which resulted in a 25 minute car chase with a string of police vehicles in pursuit. He was apprehended and taken to the Buncombe County Detention Center. Because of Tim’s role in the investigation and his significant detective experience, he was asked by the Sheriff’s Office to be the lead investigator and interview the suspect. He did so and with his interviewing expertise, Tim was able to get the suspect to confess to the crimes as well as other unrelated, unsolved incidents. As of this date, there are 53 counts against the perpetrator, with the investigation continuing. Thanks to the quick work of law enforcement and Tim’s detective and interview expertise, the two day crime spree ended in short order.
This is a story about experience, expertise, and teamwork. Other MPD officers were actively involved, including Officer Eli Ammons who responded to the scene of the break-ins in the middle of the night, Officer Justyn Whitson canvassed witnesses, and Chief Jeff Eaton responded at the termination of the car chase to investigate evidence related to the Montreat crimes. The teamwork also involved Black Mountain and Buncombe County as well. BCSO District One Captain Dustan Auldredge commented, “We appreciate our partnership with the Montreat Police Department and are grateful to Captain Tim Bradley for his assistance in achieving resolve for this case,”
We are indeed fortunate to have such an experienced, dedicated, and personable police force. Three cheers for the Montreat Police Department!
Hurricane Helene Update
Even though it has been nearly 17 months since Hurricane Helene devastated the area, and despite the amount of recovery work done during that time, much still remains to be accomplished. Roads, bridges, culverts, mud/land slides, and more are still on the repair list to get Montreat back to pre-hurricane status. But progress continues at as rapid a pace as FEMA will allow.
Here is a quick update on several key projects:
- Appalachian Way- It is the top priority of major road repairs. The work involves milling existing roadway, grading, and paving, as culvert repairs have already been completed. The Town has committed funds on hand to complete the work. We are working with contractors to schedule milling and grading to coincide with the opening of asphalt plants.
- Texas Road and Arbor Lane Pedestrian Bridges- The two bridges, totally destroyed in the hurricane, have been approved (obligated) by FEMA to be replaced and will be paid by FEMA in advance of the construction. Progress is on hold awaiting a response from FEMA regarding what type of bridge replacement design will be acceptable.
- Water Resiliency Project- The Town is currently partnering with WithersRavenel (our disaster recovery consultants) to pursue funding through the State Revolving Fund (SRF) program. This highly competitive funding opportunity would provide critical resources to implement major drinking water resiliency improvements across our system. If awarded, the funds will allow us to strengthen infrastructure, harden vulnerable components against future flood events, and enhance the overall reliability and sustainability of our public water supply. These improvements are designed not only to protect essential services during severe weather, but also to ensure that our community’s water system remains safe, dependable, and resilient for years to come.
Chief Eaton Announces Resignation
Montreat Chief of Police Jeff Eaton announced his resignation earlier this week, effective March 18. After 18 months on the job, Chief Eaton explained that he has accepted a more flexible position that will allow him additional time to focus on personal matters.
The Chief began his work in Montreat three weeks prior to Hurricane Helene. Unfortunately, the storm resulted in two giant trees crashing down and crushing his house. He and his family were unhurt but were stranded for several days. They are recovering slowly building a new house. He hopes to be moving in soon.
Jeff has accomplished a great deal during his time at Montreat, focusing on organizing the department and its operations.
In commenting on Jeff’s resignation, Town Manager Savannah Parrish said, “We appreciate Jeff’s service and contributions to the Town and wish him the very best in this next chapter.”
Savannah also announced that Captain Tim Bradley will serve as Interim Police Chief until a permanent replacement is found. Tim served in the same capacity prior to Jeff’s hiring.
Updates and Reminders
- The Montreat Board of Adjustment will meet on Thursday, February 26th, at 5:00 pm, in the Town Hall Community Room. The meeting will be live streamed. For streaming instructions and agenda information, CLICK HERE. All are invited to attend.
- Do you receive your own copy of the Montreat Minute or know someone who doesn’t? Sign up for the Sunshine List to receive the Montreat Minute and stay “in the know” about the Town’s happenings. CLICK HERE to sign up for the list!
- Do you receive Montreat CodeRED alerts, an emergency communications system used a number of times during the hurricane? If not, CLICK HERE to register and ensure you will be contacted in the event of an emergency.
Questions or Comments?
Do you have Town-related questions or comments to offer? If so, please send them to Angela Murphy at info@townofmontreat.org and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Have a good weekend.
